[Published on Tuesday, 30 June 2026]
BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR
In Hamilton, NZ
TWO Solomon Islands table tennis players have been selected to join the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-Oceania Talent Team at the 2026 Table Tennis Australia (TTA) National Championships.
The championships will be held in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia, from July 3-12.
Solomon Islands Table Tennis Federation (SITTF) Development Officer and coach Gary Edward Nuopula, who was recently appointed assistant coach of the ITTF-Oceania Talent Team, confirmed to SunSPORTS that Rodney Satini and Isabella Lekueta have been selected to join athletes from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.
Despite the Solomon Islands not yet having a dedicated high-performance training centre, Nuopula acknowledged the continued support of the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) in developing the country’s table tennis programme.
“I am truly grateful to NOCSI for providing us with a training space at the Legacy Sports House and for continuing to support my table tennis development programme.
“Their support has been instrumental in helping us build a pathway for our athletes,” he said.
Nuopula also thanks ITTF-Oceania for appointing him assistant coach of the Talent Team for the championships.
The appointment comes at an exciting time following the International Olympic Committee’s announcement of a US$10,000 Olympian Grant, a new initiative designed to support Olympic athletes in their sporting careers and assist with their transition beyond competition.
Meanwhile, the 2026 TTA National Championships are supported by Goulburn Mulwaree Council and will feature competitions in the Under-19, Under-21, Open and Para categories.
The event is set to attract top talent from every state and territory, and serve as the highest level of domestic competition, often determining national ranking points.
Photo: Supplied
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